Utrecht University Announces Academic Boycott Of Israel
Utrecht University has become the first Western academic institution to announce an academic boycott of Israel, shattering a taboo. ” The university has effectively stopped or suspended all institutional collaborations with Israeli parties and will not start any new collaborations. “The boycott will remain in place until further notice”, the University said.
The university has become the first Western educational institute to use the B-word to describe the measures it took in the past to end ties with complicit Israeli academic institutions.
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“The situation in the world, and in Gaza in particular, requires us to act with a moral compass. There is great human suffering. As an academy, we have a duty to provide space for dialogue and for research that contributes to understanding and to solutions that do justice to peace and justice”, the university director said.
“This requires openness, even when it is difficult. It requires us to continue to meet each other in dialogue, with respect for differences. But it is also clear when there is genocidal violence and a line has been crossed. The call by demonstrating students and staff has been heard by me and my colleagues. We have effectively stopped or suspended all institutional collaborations with Israeli parties and will not start any new collaborations; a boycott is in place until further notice”, he said.
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The boycott includes Utrecht working to end all ties with Israeli academic institutions including withdrawing from multilateral research projects, especially Horizon projects, in which complicit Israeli academic institutions participate.
The decision follows months of persistent campaigning by Utrecht University students and staff, who have held protests and demonstrations demanding institution sever ties with Israeli academic bodies.
